member in Glasgow Scotland...

[Mitton]

Glass is.

And if I could afford one, I'd buy one. Towards the end of 2008, I'll be able to afford a new camera. If I weren't cheap, I'd not buy reps.

With your connections on the board you should be able to get a camera and lens from Asia. Personally, I would NEVER buy a camera or lens in the UK or Europe.

I've bought loads of cameras and lenses for mates in Asia, in HK (if you know the right people and buy regularly - I am not talking about Nathan Rd or even Mon Kok, but regular dealers who deal in end of lines) you can get end-of-line DSLR with full WW guarantee for 50% of what you'd pay in UK, e.g. Jessops. My D50 Kit cost just over £200 about two years ago....it's unbelievable with a wide angle lens on it (SIGMA 10-20mm) you can stand across the street of a skyscraper and take a pic of the whole thing. In January there I picked up (for a mate) a EOS40 KIT for £600....that's amazing value.

I am sure that the HK based people could do even better.

My P5000 (one of the best pro-compacts I have ever had - it is amazing what it can do like a mini DSLR but ultra-portable, carry it everywhere I go and it takes interchangeable lens convertors - macro, telephoto and wide angle) cost just £135 in HK with a spare battery. Just look at the price in Jessops... or Photoptrix. I'd recommend that camera over a DSLR for anyone not doing street stuff. I took a pic of the Omega logo (you can't see it with the naked eye) on the hesalite with this camera which was better than the D50 with a SIGMA macro.

[Pugwash]

With your connections on the board you should be able to get a camera and lens from Asia. Personally, I would NEVER buy a camera or lens in the UK or Europe.

I bought my Panasonic when visiting my brother in Thailand a few years ago. The same week I discovered replica watches, in fact.